New Toy!

[Norm]

Well we tried out Patty's new lathe yesterday. Had a heck of a time finding anything of size to fit on it so we ended up using some dry spalted hard maple. Boy they don't call it hard maple for nothing. On the plus side we'd just sharpened all the tools on the tormak so they were razor sharp. I'm making a bud vase for the dining room table out of the chunk I found but ran into a knot that needed some thick CA applied so didn't get finished yet. The lathe is a beast and it's neat to be able to adjust the speed so easily. It's very smooth running and doesn't hesitate one bit but it also let me know who was boss. 

[Patty]

Yea, the old head in the fish bowl syndrome! I hate that.   

I spent all night hacking and coughing and trying to blow out all the dust I inhaled yesterday. There just has to be a better way. I was wearing a regular dust mask while sanding, but Norm said everytime he looked over there was just a cloud of sawdust all around my head. Finally we just opened up the door and let the outdoor air come in, but that gets a bit chilly in January.   I was hoping one of those ventilated masks would do the trick.     

I ordered face shields from Rockler yesterday, only to see them on Amazon at half the cost this morning. Geeesh.  Sometimes you just need to go back to bed. 

[Fla._Deadheader]

 Patty, do NOT breathe that Spalted dust. It is BAAAD. Fix a fan to the side of you. From the back, it will "Swirl" the dust around you.

  Don't remember the technical stuff, BUT, that spalt is REALLY BAAAD.

[Patty]

No kidding Harold.        I am still miserable this morning. Sawdust really irritates the sinus and the lungs. Maybe a respirator would help. Can't be any worse than the stupid  dust mask.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 It's not the sawdust, Patty. It's the moldy stuff from the Spalt.

  Being associated with Medical stuff, do you know any place with one of them machines that help clear stuff from lungs   That may be a good way to get it out of your system ??  it's REALLY BAAAD stuff. 

[SwampDonkey]

I've been breathing a few hours of butternut dust, sanding this desk. I only have a dust mask and it ain't much good in fine dust. I have to keep the door of the shop open, as I'm afraid of that super fine dust consuming the place and igniting like a bomb from the wood stove.  I keep a slow fire in it with this out of the world mild weather we have. Temp this morning went down to 34 F and now back up to 40 with a NW wind. I'de like to know when NW winds starting getting warmer, they's used to be $%#$%#$%#  cold.

[sawguy21]

SD be real careful with that dust around an open flame or you will get picked up for speeding over Nova Scotia.

[metalspinner]

Patty,
You need to get a dust collecter set up run to the lathe.  Even  a small one will do the job.  Wood dust is a know carcinogen.  Add spalted wood to that and you better watch out.  Not to mention all that dust is distracting to the work at hand which could lead to an injury.
Please take care...

[Norm]

Metalspinner could you give me an idea of how you do a dust collection for your lathe?

[TexasTimbers]

Chris I have a similiar question as Norm . . . .

Metalspinner could you give me an idea of how you do a dust collection for your lathe?

[OneWithWood]

In addition to the dust collection set up get a good mask.  Not a dust mask but a real respirator such as the 3M 6100 series.  I have two of them and wear one whenever I am creating saw dust.  They are much more comfortable than a dust mask and capture the fine particles that the dust collector does not get.  Your lungs will thank you.

[Patty]

Thanks guys, my lungs need all the help they can get.   Since Saturday, they feel so heavy, like I am coming down with a bad cold or something. It has been so long since I've had a cold that I forgot how miserable the feeling is. I will certainly be using a respirator next time. Not to mention a dust collector on the lathe. I am very interested to see how others have theirs set up.

[Paschale]

In addition to the dust collection set up get a good mask.  Not a dust mask but a real respirator such as the 3M 6100 series.  I have two of them and wear one whenever I am creating saw dust.  They are much more comfortable than a dust mask and capture the fine particles that the dust collector does not get.  Your lungs will thank you.

Ditto that, OWW.  I have a really good respirator, one where you can change out the filters.  They're organic, somehow, and they do a really good job of keeping the nasty stuff out.  The last time I used it, I was ripping an old ceiling out of my bathroom, lath and plaster, and it sure did rain down the dust.  It was awful, but I was breathing fine with the respirator.  For less than $50 of outlay, your lungs will thank you.  In my line of work, I can't afford to do anything that would effect my lungs, so I take good care of them.  And I always hate hearing those stories about guys who wake up one day and have suddenly developed an allergic reaction, doing the one thing that gives them the most fun in life.     It's worth the nuisance of a mask like that. 

[Burlkraft]

Here's the one that OneWay makes, but with a little sheet metal you can make yer own. I have a friend who has this one. He has a shop in his basement and he said it works great...no more sanding dust upstairs......  www.oneway.on.ca

Dust Hood
 
Designed specifically for the 2436, this dust hood will quickly and efficiently suck away any small dust particles generated while sanding. Simply hook it up to a dust extractor, vacuum, or central-vac system by attaching the vacuum hose to the 5” gate, and start sanding. It can also be moved to the outboard side (if you find it’s in the way) by folding the side flaps back and sliding it away.

There is a window which serves two purposes - for those interested onlookers, or to allow more light through to the work area.

It’s powder painted for a resilient finish.

Part No. 3550
$449.95 USD

PRODUCT

[metalspinner]

I just have a 4" pvc hose on the back side of the lathe.  Most of what I turn is short, so this works fine.  For longer things, a stand could be made to move the end of the hose nearer to where you are sanding. An old light fixture with the long arms and pivoting hinges would work for the end of the hose as well. This will not catch any chips, but the fine dust gets sucked right up.  I've concidered mounting a collection tube under the lathe bed theat would funnel down to the suction pipe, but I haven't mapped that out yet.

I have a new lathe on order, so that could be my first project for it.

[SwampDonkey]

 

How many lathes do you guys need?    I've had this good old Delta for 14 years and ain't looking for a new one yet. 

 

[Burlkraft]

It's kind of like trucks for me...I've had a bunch, but the one I have now I'm gonna drive till it drops cuz I really like it. It took a few lathes the get one exactly how ya want it.....    Of course it's only benificial if that matters to ya.....

[SwampDonkey]

  Don't matter as long as she spins shavings.

[CHARLIE]

Patty first things first. What a fine lathe you have! I'm envious!!! That lathe is top of the line in my opinion and will last you a lifetime. The electronic speed control is going to be sweet. Also, you can put a big unbalanced chunk of wood on there and that lathe won't vibrate a bit. You made a fine choice.

My opinion about turning tools. Use the ones you already have. I'm pretty sure you bought some High Speed Steel tools.  It's not the tool exactly but the angle you sharpen them and that you turn with them sharp.  Here is a link to Alan Lacer's website and some of his articles. Read them. Especially the ones about sharpening and honing. http://www.alanlacer.com/Articles.html
If you decide to buy more tools, I don't recommend buying a set. Determine the tool you need and get it and keep it sharp.  I have several tools that I never pick up.

Woodcraft sells turning tools but here is a link to Packard. They also sell woodturning tools and other stuff.  I bought a Packard 1/2 inch spindle gouge that I like a lot.   

http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=tools-pkrd

About dust. DON'T breathe it! You don't need it in your lungs and you don't want to become allergic to wood or your woodworking days will be over.  I don't wear a mask when I'm turning, just a face shield.....unless I'm turning cedar or an exotic wood. Then I wear a dust mask when turning.  When sanding wear a good dust mask. Several people in my woodturning club have those battery operated faceshield/respirators but they are pretty pricey. I  think if you wore a good dust mask and extracted the dust right off the lathe you'd be OK.  If you don't have a dust collector, it should be on your list of things to get. Even setting the 4 inch hose next to your turnings would help. Fastening the 4 inch house to the bottom of a plastic bucket with PVC fittings and putting the bucket next to your turning is even better as it covers a larger area. Get the vacuum as close to the backside of your work as possible without it interfering. I've listed some lathe dust collectors from Woodcraft for you. They are not all that expensive.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=2086
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=3626
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5854

I've always recommended joining a woodturning club but I know you and Norm are not close to any. If I were you, I'd surely make that trip to Peoria. That is a goldmine offer and you'll learn a lot.

I know y'all are going to enjoy your lathe for many years to come. Keep your Jet mini lathe and take it with you when you travel.  You can turn anywhere then.